Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Kokuryudo - Hipitch Cleansing Oil
sofysophia 7/31/2011 6:08:00 AM
well i've been MIA on makeupalley and have taken a long long hiatus from writing reviews here... but after seeing the last review on this cleanser i just felt compelled to get my lazy butt off that couch and write something. to begin with, i just have to say if you're prone to acne, you just either stay away from any oil cleanser, or cleanse your face with a foam cleanser after using an oil cleanser. i have EXTREMELY acne-prone and sensitive skin (i'm currently on Duac and Differin) but i LOVE LOVE LOVE this cleanser and it has not broken me out. AT ALL. why? because i insist on cleansing my face with a foam cleanser (currently i'm using Curel) after i've taken my makeup off with this Hipitch oil cleanser. this should be how you use an oil cleanser if you are in any way prone to breakouts. my mom has never broken out in her entire life so she can get away with using an oil cleanser without having to follow up with a foam cleanser. but for me, such is not the case, unfortunately.
back to the Hipitch cleanser itself, i happen to love that orange-y scent and the runny/watery consistency, but that could be just me because i just simply hate rubbing thick oil into my skin (ick). result wise, it doesn't irritate my skin/eyes at all (again, i have extremely sensitive skin at the moment because of Duac and Differin) and it takes off ALL my makeup like a breeze. FYI on a typical work day i wear brown smokey eyes (brown + black eyeshadows, waterproof mascara, waterproof black eyeliner, sometimes falsies as well) and two to three pumps is all i need to take that makeup off.
i have to say this is my FAVORITE oil cleanser for taking off my makeup. it is so very mild, super cheap, and takes off my makeup SO WELL. i will keep buying this! and i almost never say this about an oil cleanser :P
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Formula 10.0.6 - Deep Down Detox
sofysophia 11/29/2010 8:22:00 AM
this is my first review on MUA in a long time (been on hiatus!). anyway, i stumbled upon this range while trying to look for something for my flare-ups at the drugstore a while back. i ended up with this and the "pore be pure" mud mask from the same range (the one in pink tube). have to say, i LOVE these masks! can't really decide which one works better so i kinda alternate between the two. it stings quite a bit when you first slap it on (same with "pores be pure"), but the burning sensation subsides after a minute or so. my face always feels so much cleaner after using it. the pores are unclogged and are no longer congested with blackheads. personally speaking, i like these two masks so much better than the tea tree oil mud mask and the much raved about "blue corn mask" from The Body Shop. i know i can always count on them for a glowing complexion. LOVE!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Jill Stuart - Loose Powder - Glow
sofysophia 6/20/2008 1:29:00 PM
first and foremost, the shade i got for this loose powder is 01 NATURAL - which has NO shimmer or glitter at all. 100% matte.
i was doing some research on this powder on a local beauty forum and realized actually not many girls like this powder. some say this powder does nothing at all in controlling oilies. but then again, none of the powders i've ever tried has ever done that, so. well, at least the container is pretty! so much prettier than those from Anna Sui and Paul & Joe. i love how it resembles those dusting powder containers from the 50s. it looks so good sitting on the dresser in my room where everything is either white or mirror-surfaced.
but anyhoo, it's what's inside that counts, no? i'm not the kinda girl who gets sold simply by gorgeous packaging and clever marketing. been disappointed one too many times in the past. i still decided to take the plunge with this one though - even without testing it first (no testers are provided as there are no official retailers in my country yet). you may ask why? well i read from other reviews that this powder is really finely milled. it's true. it's so finely milled it disappears the second you put it on (i put it on with a big fluffy brush from Chantecaille). it sets your makeup beautifully. it doesn't control oilies on my t-zone but again nothing i've tried has ever done that (i've tried: Cle de Peau, Chanel, Laura Mercier, La Prarie, Shiseido, Guerlain, Chantecaille, NARS, Make Up For Ever, Ettusais, Mario Badescu, Lancome, Beaute de Kose, Bobbi Brown, and the list goes on and on). so to me it's a non-issue. it's a very delicate powder and 01 Natural is a very pale color which is how i love it.
Will i buy it again? yes - partly because of its gorgeous packaging and partly because of its divine quality. i mean, if there are two powders that are of the same quality would you pick one with a prettier packaging? you know you would ;P
that said, it is not the powder for you though even if you are slightly tanned. their color selection sucks i know. but if you are lucky enough to find a color that suits you, you're gonna love this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Lancome - Renergie Morpholift Yeux R.A.R.E.
sofysophia 5/18/2008 11:41:00 AM
i've purchased a sample size of this and i LOVED it. i've been using Guerlain's Issima Success Eye Tech for a long time and as much as i adore the product, it's expensive and this Lancome eye cream comes as a great alternative. i would love to keep alternating between these two :) i have extremely sensitive skin around my eyes and many eye creams i've tried sting my eyes so badly - last time when i tried Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide Time Complex Capsules for eyes it was stinging so badly i thought i was going blind. however, this Lancome eye cream feels very soothing and moisturizing. but not greasy. last week i went back and stocked up on more of these in sample size. they work out to be cheaper than purchasing the full-size product. yipee! :P
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Shiseido - Pureness Balancing Softener alcohol-free
sofysophia 5/18/2008 11:24:00 AM
the safest toner on the market! doesn't aggravate breakouts and does not feel sticky/greasy like many toners do. and the best thing is that it is sans alcohol and i feel safe using it. i put the content in a spray bottle and spray it on before i apply my Guerlain Orchidee serum before bed or Guerlain L'OR primer in the morning. my skin feels supple and healthy, not suffocated. I've tried EVERYTHING from the Pureness line and this is the only product i keep going back. may i also add their powder foundation is good too, if the color's right for you. it's too dark for me so i've switched to La Prairie. all in all, i think this toner is a god sent for acne prone skin. if you too hate alcohol in toners, you're going to love this :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -La Prairie - Cellular Treatment Foundation Powder
sofysophia 5/18/2008 2:28:00 AM
i got it (the old version - round compact) on strawberrynet.com and with my loyalty discount + local customer discount, it was a pretty good deal :) after reading so much rave reviews here my i expected so much from this powder. i expected it to be my holy grail, even before i saw the powder in flesh. and it didn't let me down. i've tried almost every powder out there and this is one of the BEST i've ever tried. it goes on like my second skin. and this is great for acne-prone skin. the powder is SO finely milled it's such a delight to use. it gives you that picture perfect look that one can only dream of having. now i look forward to putting on my makeup every morning :) I have it in Ivoire, the lightest shade in the line i think? it's a pretty neutral color without a lot of pink or yellow in it. not that i could detect anyway. all in all, this powder is right up there with my other favorite Cle de Peau :D
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Yves Saint Laurent - Teint Parfait Complexion Enhancer Oil-free
sofysophia 5/17/2008 3:57:00 AM
on a scale of 1 to 10, i would probably give it a 7. 4 years ago i got a tube of Teint Parfait in Apricot in a swap and while i love its scent and texture, the color looks awful on my skin (typical Asian skin with yellow undertone). I later realized Apricot is intended for people with cooler skin tone. i chucked it out and never tried it in another shade. until now. i got a tube in Mauve last week at the YSL counter, hoping the lavender tint will take away the yellowness in my skin. my expectation was so high i ended up getting disappointed. again. it doesn't really do much for my skin - i don't notice much difference the product makes on my skin. it doesn't look brighter or more radiant. and it adds another step to my already complicated makeup routine (moisturizer > Guerlain's L'OR > YSL Teint Parfait > Shiseido Anessa sunscreen > foundation) in the morning which is such a hassle. as far as primers go, i'd prefer L'OR from Guerlain. the good thing about this one is that it's oil-free and people with acne problems can use it without worrying it might aggravate the breakouts. the texture is nice and velvety (but without silicon in the product) which is such a delight to use. and the fresh scent is a bonus. i'm kinda on the fence about this one. i mean, i'd finish the tube but i don't know if i'd repurchase it. i like the shade of #2 but hate the shimmer in it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Yves Saint Laurent - Highlighter
sofysophia 5/17/2008 3:53:00 AM
on a scale of 1 to 10, i would probably give it a 7. 4 years ago i got a tube of Teint Parfait in Apricot in a swap and while i love its scent and texture, the color looks awful on my skin (typical Asian skin with yellow undertone). I later realized Apricot is intended for people with cooler skin tone. i chucked it out and never tried it in another shade. until now. i got a tube in Mauve last week at the YSL counter, hoping the lavender tint will take away the yellowness in my skin. my expectation was so high i ended up getting disappointed. again. it doesn't really do much for my skin - i don't notice much difference the product makes on my skin. it doesn't look brighter or more radiant. and it adds another step to my already complicated makeup routine (moisturizer > Guerlain's L'OR > YSL Teint Parfait > Shiseido Anessa sunscreen > foundation) in the morning which is such a hassle. as far as primers go, i'd prefer L'OR from Guerlain. the good thing about this one is that it's oil-free and people with acne problems can use it without worrying it might aggravate the breakouts. the texture is nice and velvety (but without silicon in the product) which is such a delight to use. and the fresh scent is a bonus. i'm kinda on the fence about this one. i mean, i'd finish the tube but i don't know if i'd repurchase it. i like the shade of #2 but hate the shimmer in it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Guerlain - Le 2 de Guerlain
sofysophia 5/14/2008 3:12:00 PM
i went to guerlain 3 days ago to stock up on their L'OR primer and the SA was working her ass off trying to talk me into getting this mascara (the SAs there seem to do this a lot which i hate :S). i usually aint one who gets swayed by SA's sweet talking but since i really did need a mascara (was thinking about getting Ettusais - still the best i've ever used and i was so eager to try out their new formula) i caved in and got this one from guerlain. been using it for 3 days now. i'd say it's a decent mascara. but i've seen better. and because i've been using fiber mascaras since forever this takes a little getting used to. design wise: like many have mentioned - too long! i had to find a way to angle it into my makeup drawer which is such a hassle. the packaging is pretty all right but it has to be practical too. and what's with the bendy brush? it's such a gimmick and personally i don't care much for the bendy brush. i mean, unless you were born with wire-like metal stiff lashes you won't need a bendy brush. the dual-brush design is good, although i won't have any problem doing without the smaller brush. things i like about this mascara: the formula is moist (the way i like it) and it doesn't weigh my lashes down (well after all it has been advertised as a "curling mascara" right). the curl stays up all day without flaking. with the help of my shiseido mascara base and panasonic eyelash curler, i have doll lashes! is it repurchase material? even with my 10% VIP discount, i don't think it is worth the price. i think i'll still go back to Ettusais after i finished the tube. i might consider repurchasing if the formula holds up and doesn't go dry so quickly.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Chanel - Blue Satin
sofysophia 2/17/2008 11:22:00 AM
i'm afraid i'd have to agree with many here that it does look BLACK. i put it on and in dim yellow lights it looks jet black. when i stand in fierce sunlight it looks like a blackcurrant shade. but never the kind of navy blue i'm after. i'd keep wearing it though cos it does look a tad different from black. don't get me wrong i still think this color is beautiful but if you are looking for a more electric blue this one is not for you.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Sally Hansen - Insta-Dri
sofysophia 2/17/2008 11:15:00 AM
i was gonna try Cutex Diamond Extra Hard because of its ridiculously high rating here. but i couldn't find it anywhere here in my town so i picked up a bottle of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri instead. this is just incredible. I'd been using Revlon Double Twist for the longest time but EVERY FRIGGIN' SINGLE TIME i woke up in the morning with smudges/sheet marks all over my mani (i always do my nails at night). that was SO frustrating cos i gave it more than enough time (say about 1.5-2 hours?) to dry before i hit the sack so it is unacceptable for my manicure to still get smudged.
well, while this top coat does what it claims (dries in a minute) and my manicure DOES dry to the touch in less than a minute, it chips in about two to three days. then i found Seche Vite --- arguably the best top coat in the world and rightly so --- and my manicure now easily lasts more than a week :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Guerlain - L'OR Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold
sofysophia 1/31/2008 5:03:00 AM
i'm on my second bottle of this and i was using the old version of this for about 2 years prior to this. the OLD VERSION was really moisturizing without feeling silicony which i HATE in primers/moisturizers. the foundation sinks right in and makes my makeup looks flawless. but at times it could feel like glue.
on to this new version. the packaging is so much classier (glass bottle VS plastic cheap looking bottle) compared to the old one but i like the old one better because i like how the bottom lifts every time you do the pump action so you get every single last drop of the content.
as for the product itself, L'OR (new version) feels lighter compared to the old one, which is great for summer. i like it. but the thing i dont like about it is that alcohol is pretty high up on the ingredient list. although it doesnt irritate my skin im not sure how it will work for other people. the good thing is, this doesnt break me out so i keep going back to this one.
in all fairness though, i dont think the gold flakes are supposed to give an artificial glow to your skin. they are supposed to melt INTO your skin and improve your skin's condition in general. i like how it feels on my skin and that's what matters.
UPDATE (31 July 2011): while i still think this primer is great, i have since switched to Sofina's Primavista Long Keep Base in order to battle the crazy heat in hong kong. i do love how this Guerlain primer gives a dewy glow to your skin, it's just not what i need right now.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Kose - Cosme Decorte The White Science Brightening Foundation
sofysophia 12/3/2007 12:53:00 PM
absolutely the WORST powder i've ever used. it is pure horrification - this is a word i invented just for this product. i've been using their Sekkisei range and am loving it so i thought their foundation would be great too since the powder comes from the more prestigious Cosme Decorte range. MISTAKE!!!
i'm just SO beyond disappointed. the moment it came into contact with my skin i knew my HK$370 was down the drain. this powder is CAKEY ICKY. not only does it settle into pores, it sits on top of your skin like a mask. i don't know how they did that. whatever happens to testing your products before putting it out on the market? didnt they test the foundation on some female scientist in the lab and realized what a cakey mess she's become?
the worst part is i had to take this off half way through the day at work. i work for a newspaper and i usually don't have this kind of time to re-do my makeup at work. but i figured this was an emergency. i always have a makeup bag full of SOS sample-sized goodies (gotta be prepared for contingency!) so i took the foundation off with the Shiseido Pureness toner, then re-applied foundation from Lancome.
to sum up, this powder foundation doesn't spread, settles into pores , sits on top of your skin and makes your skin feel suffocated. this foundation is a joke. seriously.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Shiseido - Anessa - Mild Sunscreen (face) SPF 43 PA+++
sofysophia 12/2/2007 12:08:00 PM
my new HG sunscreen for face. it's even better than my Ettusais (which only has SPF24 PA++), both texture and sun protection wise. i personally do not find the "white cast" a problem at all, as opposed to what some mentioned in their reviews. the sunscreen has a hint of beige-ish color in it and it doesnt go on like scary white. i like how it brightens my skin and lightens my skin tone. it's almost like a tinted moisturizer to me. the second thing i love about this sunscreen is that it makes an excellent makeup base. seriously, this is the FIRST ever sunscreen that makes my super duper GIANT pores on my nose disappear upon application. and it stays matte for hours and hours. i usually need 5 Clean & Clear oil blotting films to get through the day. with this sunscreen i only need 2. it never happened! so there. the third thing, and most important thing i like about this sunscreen is that it DOES NOT BREAK ME OUT. i'd been sticking to Ettusais sunblock for so long because i was afraid other sunscreens will break me out. thanks for all your inputs on MUA and i was finally able to make this leap and realized what a wonderful product this is. remember, though, you need to moisturize, moisturize and moisturize before you put this on. otherwise your makeup is gonna flake.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Ettusais - Medicated Acne Night Time Defense Powder
sofysophia 11/2/2007 1:58:00 PM
i'm afriad i'll have to jump onto the bandwagon and give this product yet another rave! i don't want to say i love this product because that would mean i have to add another step to my already-complicated skincare routine but seriously, i don't think my skincare routine would be complete without this powder! i've been on Dan Kern's Clear Skin regimen for almost 2 years and my skin is almost flawless now (except for those nasty hormonal pre-menstrual breakouts). but still i hate waking up in the morning with oil covering my face. i thought this powder would dry up my skin but no, it neither dries up my skin nor does it make my skin oily. it just makes my skin BABY SOFT AND SMOOTH. seriously! you just have to try it and see for yourself. i wake up in the morning now with fresh skin can you believe it? yes, the packaging is plastic and it doesn't look expensive like Guerlain but who cares? its the stuff inside that counts. at least it is light and travel-friendly. it's come with a sifter inside as well so i don't think the packaging is too shabby. it is my holy grail. will buy for as long as i shall breathe and live :)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No